Incarceration rates of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples

Attorney-General, Senator the Hon George Brandis QC, announced on 27 October 2016 the Government's intention to ask the Australian Law Reform Commission to examine the factors leading to the over-representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in our prisons, and consider law reform to ameliorate this 'national tragedy'.

The Attorney-General's Department released Draft Terms of Reference for public consultation on 6 December 2016.

The ALRC received final Terms of Reference on 10 February 2017. The terms of reference ask the ALRC to examine the laws, frameworks and institutions and broader contextual factors that lead to the disturbing over‑representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in our prison system.

His Honour Judge Matthew Myers AM was appointed as an ALRC Commissioner in February 2017 to lead the Inquiry.

The ALRC released a Discussion Paper and called for submissions on 19 July 2017. Submissions closed on 4 September 2017.